Mechanical Engineers pay range in La Crosse
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,980 a year or less, while the top 10% make $127,920 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in La Crosse earn between $85,840 and $127,360.
- $78K10th
- $86K25th
- $102KMedian
- $127K75th
- $128K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $107,390 | $8,949 | $51.63 |
| Median | $102,280 | $8,523 | $49.17 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $85,840 | $7,153 | $41.27 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $127,360 | $10,613 | $61.23 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Engineers pay in La Crosse vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Mechanical engineers in La Crosse earn 11% more than the Wisconsin average ($96,750) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($113,610). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $104,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse | $107,390 | $102,280 | $77,980 | $127,920 | 190 |
| Wisconsin | $96,750 | $95,870 | $64,850 | $130,360 | 7,470 |
| United States | $113,610 | $104,110 | $73,990 | $164,340 | 296,810 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Mechanical Engineers salary after taxes in La Crosse
On the average salary of $107,390, a single filer in La Crosse takes home about $79,513 a year, or $6,626 a month and $3,058 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WI | $79,513 | $6,626 |
| Working in MN | $78,600 | $6,550 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is La Crosse a good place for mechanical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the La Crosse area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.8), so the average $107,390 buys what about $117,022 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in La Crosse ($48,260). A typical home costs $335,330, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other Wisconsin cities
La Crosse ranks 1st of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- La Crosse$107,390
- Fond du Lac$106,940
- Madison$103,480
- Sheboygan$103,090
- Janesville$98,370
- Milwaukee$98,290
- Green Bay$94,550
- Racine$94,520
- Appleton$94,070
- Kenosha$92,710
Highest-paying cities for mechanical engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($165,920).
- San Jose, CA$165,920
- San Francisco, CA$158,690
- Santa Cruz, CA$139,810
- Augusta, GA$137,040
- Baton Rouge, LA$136,970
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Mechanical Engineers salary in La Crosse: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in La Crosse?
$51.63 an hour on average, and $49.17 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in La Crosse?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,980 a year and the 25th percentile is $85,840, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in La Crosse?
About $79,513 a year ($6,626 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $107,390.
Do mechanical engineers earn more in La Crosse than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. average for this job ($113,610).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2141; area La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN (29100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.20, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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